by The Cowl Editor on November 29, 2018
Friar Sports
By Sam Scanlon ’19
Sports Staff
As Providence College students traveled their separate ways for Thanksgiving with their families, the Women’s Ice Hockey Team traveled to compete in this year’s Nutmeg Classic in New Haven, Connecticut. The Lady Friars joined Yale University, Quinnipiac University, and the University of Connecticut in this tournament.
The 8th ranked Friars were slated to faceoff against Yale in game one of the Nutmeg Classic. In a tight back and forth contest that included a scoreless first period, the Friars struck first courtesy of alternate captain Christina Putigna ’19. Putigna jammed in her seventh goal in just 10 games to put PC up 1-0 midway through the second frame.
As Yale evened up the score in the third period, Sara Hjalmarsson ’22 buried her sixth notch of the season to break the tie late in the third period. Maddie Myers ’19 would stop all remaining Bulldog opportunities and the Friars were able to hold on 2-1. PC outshot Yale 33-15 in this contest as they advanced to the Nutmeg Classic Championship Game.
The Championship game, came against the Quinnipiac University Bobcats as they ousted the UCONN Huskies in their first game. The stakes were higher in this contest as each team was battling for a chance to bring home a mid-season trophy, which is critical for momentum at this point of the season.
However, another tight matchup saw the Bobcats take a 1-0 lead in the final minute of the opening period. The Friars desperately began to claw their way back into the game, but to no avail as the second period came to a close with the score remaining 1-0 Quinnipiac.
It took until the midway point of the third period to finally break the ice as Hayley Lunny ’21 provided the equalizer on the Power Play from Maureen Murphy ’21. It was Lunny’s second strike of the season. The assist was good enough for Murphy’s team leading 24th point (12G, 12A) of the year. She extended her point streak to eight games and pushed herself into fifth in the NCAA in points.
Both teams traded chances as the clock wound down, but it was Lunny who struck again with just over five minutes remaining in the game. Her second tally of the period stood as the game winner as the Friars took down the Bobcats 2-1 to capture the 2018 Nutmeg Classic.
Myers finished the tournament by allowing just two goals and making 34 saves. She joined the tournament hero, Lunny, on the All-Tournament team, as they represented PC for their fantastic efforts in bringing home the Nutmeg Classic Championship.
Lunny’s two goal effort that lifted the Friars to their 2-1 Championship victory earned her Hockey East Player of the Week for the first time in her career. With the two wins during the weekend, the Lady Friars extended their win streak to eight straight games and brought their overall record to 12-2. They jumped up a spot in the national rankings to number eight and are set to face off against UCONN for a home-and-home series this weekend.